§ Mr. Gaitskellasked the Minister of Education the total number of meals provided in schools in 1938 and 1945, respectively; and the average price charged per meal.
§ Miss WilkinsonStatistics of the total number of school meals provided in these412W years are not available. The average daily number of public elementary and secondary school pupils for whom dinners were provided in.1938 was about 210,000. The corresponding figure for grant-aided primary and secondary schools in 1945 was approximately 1,730,000. In 1938 the charge for dinner in public elementary schools was usually about 3d. but most of the meals were free meals for necessitous children. The charges in secondary schools are not known. In 1945 the charge was generally about 5d. subject to a substantial proportion of total or partial remissions.
§ Mr. Gaitskellasked the Minister of Education the quantity of milk consumed in schools in 1938 and 1945, respectively; and the proportion of school children receiving it.
§ Miss WilkinsonIn reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 31st January, of which I am sending him a copy. The proportion of children receiving school milk was 53 per cent, in 1938 and 72 per cent. in 1945.